Quibala substation in Angola. (Image source: Mitrelli Group)

In a project engineered and executed by the Swiss-based Mitrelli Group, Angola has inaugurated the Quibala substation, the ninth and final substation to be delivered under the Sumbe-Gabela-Waco Kungo (SGWK) energy corridor

This milestone builds on earlier phases that added six substations and more than 600 km of overhead transmission lines (OHL) reaching up to 220 kV.

Together, this growing infrastructure forms the backbone of the SGWK corridor, improving the lives of 2.3 million people across the Cuanza Sul province, fuelling economic growth and industrialisation across the heart of the country.

The newly inaugurated Quibala 220/60 kV and 60/30 kV substation in Cuanza Sul Province will deliver reliable, renewable energy, adding 335 MW of available power to support industries, enhance public services and improve daily life across the region, a Mitrelli statement read.

It added that theconstruction of the substations has already created 900 direct jobs, with broader energy access expected to stimulate an additional 12,000 jobs across multiple sectors.

It also forms part of a broader, regional transformation with Mitrelli, in partnership with US-based energy investor HYDRO-LINK, advancing a landmark 1,150 km cross-border transmission corridor to link Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“This project will enable Angola’s renewable energy surplus, primarily from hydropower, to reach the DRC’s mineral-rich Copperbelt,” the Mitrelli statement noted.

“It represents a crucial step toward regional energy integration, improving grid stability, unlocking cross-border trade and strengthening energy security across Africa.”

Beyond residential and industrial use, the substations also support Angola’s agriculture and agri-processing sectors, critical pillars of its export diversification strategy.

Reliable electricity boosts production, reduces post-harvest losses, and expands cold storage capacity.

Rodrigo Manso, CEO, Mitrelli, also said that the transition to grid-connected, renewable power is expected to reduce dependence on diesel generators, cutting CO2 emissions by an estimated 392,000 cubic metres per year — the equivalent of generating 335 MW through fossil fuels.

“We are proud to stand alongside the Angolan government in expanding energy access as a foundation for inclusive national development,” said Manso.

“These projects drive economic growth, support businesses, and create jobs. The inauguration of the Quibala substation reflects Angola’s commitment to sustained progress. By combining global expertise with deep local knowledge, we’re helping build a more connected, self-sufficient, and prosperous future.”

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The initiative aims to provide clean, climate-resilient water infrastructure to 1.2 million people.

Hitech Construction Africa Limited, part of the Chagoury Group, has confirmed a strategic equity investment in Aqua Africa, representing a major step in its long-term mission to promote sustainability and inclusive growth across the continent

The collaboration is designed to deliver reliable and climate-resilient clean water access to more than ten million people over the next five years. This will be achieved through off-grid, solar-powered water systems that can effectively serve rural and peri-urban communities that are often underserved.

The investment also supports Hitech’s ambition to broaden its footprint, beginning with West Africa and steadily progressing across the continent. This expansion strengthens the company’s role as a key infrastructure developer committed to improving living standards and advancing sustainable economic progress.

Philip Foster, CEO of Aqua Africa, stated, “Partnering with Hitech brings the scale, expertise, and shared purpose needed to deliver transformational change. Together, we can bring sustainable water solutions to the communities that need them most.”

The partnership builds on Aqua Africa’s existing €76 million framework agreement with the National Water Points Development Service (SNAPE) in Guinea, backed by UK Export Finance. This initiative aims to provide clean, climate-resilient water infrastructure to 1.2 million people.

Hitech’s commitment to sustainability and CSR

Hitech’s approach is rooted in the belief that infrastructure is essential to social and economic development. Its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is centred around three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. The company works to embed sustainability into each phase of project development, from planning to completion.

Key CSR focus areas include:

• Expanding community access to vital services such as energy, mobility, and clean water
• Safeguarding the environment through climate-conscious technologies and responsible resource use
• Supporting local economies by creating employment, training opportunities, and skill-building initiatives

The partnership with Aqua Africa fully aligns with these principles. Both organisations are committed to advancing inclusive, technology-led solutions that respond to pressing social challenges while supporting national development goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 6 and SDG 13.

Through this alliance, Hitech reinforces its identity as a responsible infrastructure leader dedicated to building not only physical assets such as roads and ports, but also the foundations of a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for Africa.

Dangote refinery expansion accelerated. (Image source: Honeywell)

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has selected Honeywell to deliver advanced technologies, services, proprietary catalysts and specialised equipment that will allow the refinery to handle a broader range of crude oils and double its output at Africa’s largest refinery in Lekki, Nigeria by 2028

Using Honeywell’s refining and petrochemical process solutions, which are designed to reduce production costs, improve efficiency and increase throughput, Dangote plans to expand its refining capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next three years. This growth would position Dangote as the world’s largest petroleum refinery, strengthening Africa’s fuel production capabilities, reducing dependence on imports and improving regional energy security.

“Our continued collaboration with Honeywell marks a significant milestone not only for Dangote’s refinery, but for Nigeria’s energy sector as a whole,” said Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

“Through the use of Honeywell’s proven, advanced technologies, we can set new production standards for the industry while contributing to Nigeria’s energy independence and economic growth.”

Honeywell has supported the Lekki refinery with process technology for almost ten years. The new expansion will enable Dangote to maximise its existing assets and infrastructure, ensuring higher returns on investment, streamlining execution and accelerating time to market.

“Honeywell is committed to delivering groundbreaking technologies that empower customers, drive operational excellence, and support regional energy security efforts,” remarked Rajesh Gattupalli, president, Honeywell UOP.

“Our work with Dangote demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can help enhance regional energy independence and support Africa’s growing energy needs.”

As part of the agreement, Dangote will also adopt Honeywell’s Oleflex technology, which converts propane into propylene through catalytic dehydrogenation, enabling production of 750,000 metric tons of propylene annually. This will increase Dangote’s overall polypropylene output, a key material for a wide range of plastic and packaging products, to 2.4 million metric tons per year.

The Lekki complex is the world’s largest single-train refinery, producing Euro-V grade gasoline, diesel and jet fuel along with polypropylene used extensively in plastics manufacturing.

Honeywell’s century-long track record in the energy sector includes its process technologies and catalysts being deployed at more than 6,000 refineries and industrial sites worldwide.

Liberia tapping into its hydropower potential. (Image source: AfDB)

A new hydropower plant in Liberia has been allocated additional funding by the African Development Bank (AfDB) following cost overruns

It marks the latest infrastructure project in Africa to be hit by escalating costs.

The African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional lending arm, approved an additional loan of US$7.41mn to complete implementation of Liberia’s Renewable Energy for Electrification project.

A major part of the project is the construction of a 9.34 MW run-of-river hydropower plant in the Gbedin Falls area of Nimba County.

The plant will be connected to an eight-kilometre 33-kilovolt evacuation line and two transformer substations, and also to a cross-border transmission line.

A 15-kilometre permanent access road and an eight-kilometre temporary road will also be built to ensure access to the power plant site.

The project also calls for installation of 50 km of 33/0.4-kilovolt distribution lines and the connection of 6,650 households to the power grid in Nimba and Bong County.

In a statement, the AfDB said the additional financing will be used “to cover a cost overrun for construction of the hydropower plant and related infrastructure, as well as project management cost overruns related to implementation delays.”

The bank recently approved an additional €217mn to complete a major roads project in Uganda after costs doubled as the scheme expanded to include new interchanges, bridges, toll plazas, and service lanes.

The Liberia Renewable Energy for Electrification project is a joint initiative of the Liberian government and the AfDB, initially approved in October 2019, with project implementation beginning in March 2021.

Upon completion, the project is expected to increase Liberia’s national energy mix by 56.5 gigawatt-hours per year, representing about 6.9 per cent of the country’s total supply’s well as expand electricity access to thousands who did not previously have connection.

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